Complaint Review: TCA REBATE CENTER - HSN

I ALSO SPOKE WITH CLAUDE AT TCA WHO TOLD ME THE SAME THING ABOUT BEING DENIED THE REBATE.

I ALSO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS BORNE BY HSN WHO CHOOSES TO DO BUSINESS WITH TCA AND WHO GUARANTEED MY $40 REBATE.

I JUST WROTE THIS LETTER TO HSN BUT TCA SHOULD ALSO TAKE NOTE

Dear Mr. Bozek,

I have a complaint about the advertising at Home Shopping Network on . I'm furious about this!

I Purchased the Brother MFC-5100C during an on air promotion with the understanding that I would receive a $40 rebate on this product. I just received the following email from TCA Rebate Center of New Rochelle,
New York:

"Thank you for participating in our rebate promotion. Your rebate submission has been received. Unfortunately your rebate is denied for the following reasons: INVALID INCOMPLETE OR ALTERED RECEIPT DATE If your submission was denied for missing information please mail a copy of this message WITHIN 30 DAYS with required materials to: TCA Rebate Resolution
Dept 145 Huguenot Street Suite 105
New Rochelle NY 10801

In Canada
please mail to: TCA Rebate Resolution
Dept Suite 620 4A - 3421 Portage Ave
Winnipeg MB R3K 2C9

This is an automated acknowledgment--PLEASE DO NOT REPLY E-mail replies to this message will not receive a response. To check the status of your rebate on-line go to: www.wheresmyrebate.com If you have a question about your rebate please call us at (914) 633-0977
(IN CANADA: 1-866-723-4645)".

I immediately phoned TCA Rebate Center and spoke with Claude #104 who told me that I did not include the receipt and the rebate was denied. In fact I mailed and documented the following items in the envelope which was sent via registered mail: 1.Receipt
2. UPC code from box 3. Completed Name and Address form with email. This as directed on instruction sheet inside printer box.

Since my conversation with Claude at TCA, I have spoken with three representatives of HSN who have told me that it is NO LONGER HSN's responsibility to deal with the rebate, that I must endure the time and frustration of the run around with TCA Rebate.

In Fact I was told by BOB today 11/22/03 that the customer is only 3% of the sales equation and that 97% of the sale is selling the product, the customer is the least important part of the purchase.

I am truly concerned as a consumer and "Customer" of HSN that I am not important. More importantly as a Manufacturer and a Vendor to HSN I am REALLY unhappy, because if you treat my customer like this, it reflects
badly on me the Manufacturer of product.

I haven't been satisfied at all with Home Shopping Network in the past, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this. I'll definitely be flipping the channel away from your network in the future; I'll definitely
tell people I know to stay away.

Given my complaint, here's what I would like Home Shopping Network to do: I expect an apology for all the customers that have been denegrated to being a minute part of your organization and the reason you exist.
Secondly I do expect a check for $40 or a UPS pick for the MFC-5100C and a 100% Refund including cost of shipping for Breach of Contract.

Thanks for letting me vent my complaint, and I hope to hear from someone very soon.

D
Simi Valley, California
U.S.A.